We sat around our table laughing and trading jokes as the dishes for the youth devil gathering were meticulously prepared. Platters of crimson-glazed meats, obsidian-roasted roots, silvery fish steeped in arcane herbs, and delicate pastries that sparkled like gems with essences of rare fruits and nectar filled the table.
The aromas danced around us — spicy, smoky, and subtly sweet — tantalizing the senses without being overpowering. Every dish had been crafted with care, and you could tell no ingredient was left to chance. Even the wine shimmered like liquid ruby, promising warmth and indulgence.
Serafall, ever playful and radiant like a spark dancing in the twilight, leaned toward me with a soft, teasing smile that curved her lips like a secret waiting to be told. Her red eyes shimmered with warmth, like embers resting just beneath the surface of a calm lake. She reached up slowly, curling a lock of hair around her slender finger, the movement languid yet deliberate — as if drawing me deeper into her orbit.
"Sirzechs…" Her voice was low, velvet-soft, each syllable like a caress. "You really shouldn't hide behind that cold facade. You wear it like armor, yes… the Crimson Heir of Destruction. But when you sit like that, trying to look unapproachable… it's unbearably endearing."
Her words brushed against me, gentle yet piercing. I felt the warmth of her presence, the subtle scent of flowers and sweetness that seemed to follow her like an aura. I arched an eyebrow, amusement dancing at the corner of my mouth. "Adorable?" I replied, my tone cool but not devoid of humor. "I assure you, there's nothing adorable about me. I'm meant to terrify."
Her eyes sparkled brighter, and she laughed — a soft, breathy sound like wind teasing a field of silk. She shifted closer, daringly close, until her breath, warm and scented, ghosted over my cheek. "Perhaps to others," she whispered, lips barely parted, "but to me… you're dangerously charming. Irresistible, even. If I wanted, I could cause a scandal just by holding your hand."
Her teasing ignited something inside me — a flutter of awareness I hadn't anticipated. My lips curved into a slow, reluctant smile, though I fought to keep it contained. "Careful, Serafall," I murmured, though my voice softened. "Flirting with me… it could come at a cost you might not be ready to pay."
Her eyes half-closed as if daring me to say more, yet also inviting it. "I'm counting on it," she breathed, her tone laced with mischief and something deeper — a longing unspoken but palpable. "Besides… how often does one get to provoke the very embodiment of destruction? How often does danger wear such a disarming smile?"
For a moment, the world around us blurred — the clatter of cutlery, the hum of conversation — all fading into a quiet space charged with electricity. I felt her gaze linger on me, lingering longer than politeness allowed, as if weighing every unspoken word. Her warmth wrapped around me like a silken thread, pulling me closer, teasing my defenses.
I chuckled softly, surrendering to the moment, though I held my composure. "You'd better be careful, Serafall," I whispered, "because if you keep tempting me like this… you might discover just how perilous charm can be."
A playful, knowing smile spread across her lips, and for an instant, I saw the flicker of something more — not merely flirtation, but connection. A dance between danger and desire that neither of us dared fully name, yet both felt deep within.
And so we sat there, the air between us thick with unspoken possibilities, as laughter bubbled softly, like firelight shimmering on still water — playful, warm, and intoxicating.
---
That's when I heard it — a sudden burst of shouting and harsh laughter rising from across the grand hall. My ears twitched, and I turned instinctively toward the noise. The murmur of fine conversation dulled as heads began to turn in that direction.
A devil from House Beelzebub was hurling insults at the heir of the Orias Clan. His voice was coarse and filled with venom, his lips twisted in contempt. The Orias heir, smaller and more refined, flinched but stood his ground, his eyes wide with frustration and fear.
I leaned toward Serafall, who had been laughing at something I said only moments ago. Her expression shifted at once, the amusement fading into concern.
"What's going on over there?" she whispered, her eyes narrowing.
Before I could answer, Ajuka, sitting with his usual composed detachment, smirked. "Another meaningless squabble. The noble devils always find something to argue about."
Falbium, half-asleep at the table, lazily rubbed his eyes. "Huh? Oh… trouble? Can't it wait until after dinner?"
I narrowed my eyes and listened more carefully. The Beelzebub devil's words cut through the air like daggers.
"…What kind of pitiful offering is that?" the Beelzebub devil sneered, pointing at the Orias heir. "Do you think we'll overlook a gift that doesn't even reflect your family's status? Do you mock us with this?"
The heir of the Orias clan lifted his chin, his voice trembling but defiant. "Our lands suffered greatly this season! We did what we could. Must generosity always be measured by perfection?"
The devil's mouth curled. "Excuses. Pathetic excuses."
Nearby guests snickered, some glancing away awkwardly, others whispering among themselves. I clenched my fist lightly but kept my posture calm.
"It's always about appearances…" Serafall murmured, eyes filled with a mixture of pity and disdain.
Ajuka shrugged. "The noble houses guard their pride like treasure. Even at the cost of dignity."
Falbium yawned again, half listening. "Can't they just fight and be done with it?"
I shook my head. "It's not a real fight. The Beelzebub devil just wants to prove a point at someone weaker's expense."
Ajuka's smirk deepened. "Classic."
I sighed. "And of course, people will just stand and watch."
As if on cue, the Orias heir, pressed into a corner, let out a desperate counterattack. His defense grazed the Beelzebub devil's cheek, a mere scratch that should have been brushed aside. But it was enough to send the brute into a frenzy.
"Laughable!" one guest scoffed nearby. "He gets injured by a minor devil heir?"
The insult spread like wildfire. The Beelzebub devil's face darkened crimson, and he roared in fury. "I'll teach you a lesson you won't forget!"
Serafall's eyes sparkled with indignation. "That's… so unfair! How can someone be so cruel?"
Ajuka sighed deeply. "You can't expect logic when pride is involved."
Falbium, now fully awake, groaned. "This is why I avoid gatherings…"
I glanced at them, forcing a wry smile. "Still, it's pathetic. Fighting over gifts during a celebration."
Serafall, unable to resist, leaned toward me. "should we stop them?"
I gave her a small smile. "Eventually."
For now, I simply watched the chaos unfold — waiting for the right moment to intervene.